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Lafourche deputies honor fallen soldiers in 250-mile bike ride

Lt. John Champagne places his hand on the Memorial wall near the name of his brother, Chaney Champagne.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Staff report

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:24 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 8:52 p.m.

The Lafourche Parish sheriff and five other Sheriff's Office employees bicycled from Portsmouth, Va., to Washington, D.C., to raise money for a memorial for fallen police officers at the nation's capitol.

It was a three-day, 250-mile trip, officials said.

“This was one of the most significant and meaningful endeavors in which I have participated in my entire career,” said Sheriff Webre. “It was amazing to see men and women from so many agencies coming together without regard for rank, position or status — all of us united for the common cause of supporting each other and the officers who paid the ultimate price in protecting their communities.”

The group biked the Police Unity Tour Friday, Saturday and Sunday, officials said. They rode to the site of the National Law Enforcement Memorial.

The team raised $15,000 from local individuals and businesses to contribute to the memorial, the Sheriff's Office said. Fundraisers included Lafourche Parish Public Schools' “jean days,” where students donate money in exchange for wearing jeans instead of their uniform pants. Lafourche deputies held their own fundraisers within the Sheriff's Office.

The six cyclists were sheriff's lieutenants John Champagne, Mark Adams, Doug Foreman and Andrew Labat, as well as Barret Ellender, the Sheriff's Office chief financial officer, officials said.

Each Police Unity Tour rider chooses at least one fallen officer for whom they dedicate their ride, and the rider wears a bracelet with that officer's name during the entire trip. After the ride, the riders attempt to connect with the surviving family members of the fallen officer for which they rode.

While Champagne rode for St. John Parish Deputy Brandon Nielsen, who was killed in a shootout in LaPlace last year, he also rode in memory of his late brother and former Deputy Chaney Champagne, who died July 31, 2003.

“As a survivor, when I saw the sea of blue ride into the memorial in 2004, I was honored to think that all of that was for my family and me,” Champagne said. “Now when I ride into the memorial, I am able to give back that same sense of honor to my fellow survivors.”

All six cyclists rode in honor of an officer who died in the past year.

On the memorial wall, there are names of four Lafourche deputies who died:

• Thomas W. Procter (May 6, 1978).

• Chaney J. Champagne (July 31, 2003).

• Kurt E. Harrelson (July 31, 2003).

• Martha A. Woods-Shareef (Aug. 20, 2008).

“What made the daunting task of traveling 250 miles by bicycle achievable was the ability of us as riders to put our own physical discomforts behind the hardships of our fallen colleagues and their survivors,” Ellender said.

<p>The Lafourche Parish sheriff and five other Sheriff's Office employees bicycled from Portsmouth, Va., to Washington, D.C., to raise money for a memorial for fallen police officers at the nation's capitol.</p><p>It was a three-day, 250-mile trip, officials said.</p><p>“This was one of the most significant and meaningful endeavors in which I have participated in my entire career,” said Sheriff Webre. “It was amazing to see men and women from so many agencies coming together without regard for rank, position or status — all of us united for the common cause of supporting each other and the officers who paid the ultimate price in protecting their communities.”</p><p>The group biked the Police Unity Tour Friday, Saturday and Sunday, officials said. They rode to the site of the National Law Enforcement Memorial.</p><p>The team raised $15,000 from local individuals and businesses to contribute to the memorial, the Sheriff's Office said. Fundraisers included Lafourche Parish Public Schools' “jean days,” where students donate money in exchange for wearing jeans instead of their uniform pants. Lafourche deputies held their own fundraisers within the Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The six cyclists were sheriff's lieutenants John Champagne, Mark Adams, Doug Foreman and Andrew Labat, as well as Barret Ellender, the Sheriff's Office chief financial officer, officials said.</p><p>Each Police Unity Tour rider chooses at least one fallen officer for whom they dedicate their ride, and the rider wears a bracelet with that officer's name during the entire trip. After the ride, the riders attempt to connect with the surviving family members of the fallen officer for which they rode.</p><p>While Champagne rode for St. John Parish Deputy Brandon Nielsen, who was killed in a shootout in LaPlace last year, he also rode in memory of his late brother and former Deputy Chaney Champagne, who died July 31, 2003.</p><p>“As a survivor, when I saw the sea of blue ride into the memorial in 2004, I was honored to think that all of that was for my family and me,” Champagne said. “Now when I ride into the memorial, I am able to give back that same sense of honor to my fellow survivors.”</p><p>All six cyclists rode in honor of an officer who died in the past year. </p><p>On the memorial wall, there are names of four Lafourche deputies who died:</p><p>• Thomas W. Procter (May 6, 1978).</p><p>• Chaney J. Champagne (July 31, 2003).</p><p>• Kurt E. Harrelson (July 31, 2003).</p><p>• Martha A. Woods-Shareef (Aug. 20, 2008).</p><p>“What made the daunting task of traveling 250 miles by bicycle achievable was the ability of us as riders to put our own physical discomforts behind the hardships of our fallen colleagues and their survivors,” Ellender said.</p><p>— Staff report</p>